Overtown Children and Youth Coalition

With your support Overtown Children and Youth Coalition will continue to empower the future leaders of the community.  

Overtown Children and Youth Coalition (OCYC) is a backbone organization formed in 2012. Our mission is to catalyze, convene, network, leverage, scale, and impact a critical mass of children, youth, families, and adults through our more than 60 partner members by supporting efforts to integrate a Collective Impact Framework in Historic Overtown. Central to the core values of OCYC is the meaningful engagement of a cross-sector of community members, including youth, as a primary vehicle by which OCYC staff and stakeholders carry out its mission.

OCYC continues its commitment to partners by hosting our monthly committee meetings (Education and Community Engagement, Productive and Working, Accountability, Healthy and Safe) that consist of over 150 members who provide services to children and youth in the community.

In 2021, the committees' work led to an expansive "Campaign Drive: To Address the Digital Divide" and help expand access to computer technology, internet, computer literacy, education linked to STEM careers, and workforce development to address the technology gap in the education of African American and Latino youth in Overtown. OCYC's existing Technology Education Program (2021) survey reported students' self-reported confidence in their computer skills. About half said they want to learn how to build their website, and a third wants to learn how to code and pursue careers in this field. Many indicated the mobile phone is their primary source for submitting homework. When a laptop was available for use in the household, many shared it with their parents and siblings. Our efforts will impact this technology disparity by increasing access to technology education and services. 

To date, through its OCYC Laptop Scholarship Program, we awarded 375 laptops to youth with the goal to reach 5,000 households over the next 5 years. In recognition of 2023 National S.T.E.M./S.T.E.A.M. Day, OCYC awarded the most in a single ceremony—100 new laptops to Overtown students. OCYC wants to ensure that children and youth enrolled in Overtown schools and youth programs have the technology tools they need to succeed in their educational goals.

OCYC and our service providers host the annual I'm the Boss of My Life Youth Conference (ITBOML). The free conference provides for 200+ youth between the ages of 16 and 24 to participate in the day-long event featuring guest speakers and seminars that will prepare them to be the boss of their lives. I'm The Boss of My Life Youth Conference is an inspiring event to empower the Overtown community’s children and youth to reach their full potential. 2024 marks our fifth annual conference.